Textile product having an integrated laundry bag

ABSTRACT

A textile product is provided, in particular an article of clothing, into which a closable laundry bag is integrated. The laundry bag is produced from a heat-set plastic woven screening fabric having an average mesh width in the range between 5 micrometers and 200 micrometers and is suitable in the dimensions of the laundry bag for completely holding the textile product. During a washing process, with the textile product held within the closed laundry bag, the laundry bag serves as a retaining means for any plastic fibers washed out of the textile product.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of International Application PCT/EP2017/067121,filed Jul. 7, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plastic-fiber-containing textile product, especially a clothing item containing plastic fibers.

BACKGROUND

Many of the textile products and clothing items sold nowadays, especially outdoor wear or other functional garments consisting of synthetic fibers, consist of plastic fibers in not unsubstantial proportions. These textile products have the disadvantage that plastic fibers or fragments of plastic fibers are washed or dissolved out while they are being washed and are released together with the wastewater into the environment. Since the washed-out plastic fibers are quite generally very small and short fibers or fiber fragments, conventional wastewater filters of washing machines are not capable of holding back the said fibers to a noteworthy extent. Sewage treatment plants are certainly able to hold back a certain proportion of the plastic fibers found in wastewater, but as in the past they likewise still pass a large part of such fibers, which therefore contribute in a not inconsiderable extent to contamination of rivers and oceans, where they ultimately end up in the food chain again via the food intake of animals.

Obviously it is desirable that washing machines, sewage treatment plants, etc. be equipped with suitable microplastic filters, but obviously this is not yet comprehensively possible.

From DE 10 2016 100 493, which was not prepublished, it is already known in this connection that plastic-fiber-containing clothing items can be washed in a washing machine by means of a specially configured laundry bag capable of receiving the clothing item, wherein the laundry bag functions as a retaining means for plastic fibers washed out of the clothing item during the washing process. The plastic fibers collected in the laundry bag during a washing process may be removed from the laundry bag and properly disposed of after completion of the washing process, thus contributing to reduction of the wastewater burden due to plastic fibers. However, this environmentally friendly effect is obviously able to develop only in such households that have opted, on the basis of environmental reasons, for procurement of a corresponding laundry bag.

Furthermore, from the prior art, e.g. from German Utility Models DE 84 04 746 Ul and DE 201 04 636 Ul or from U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,312, laundry bags or laundry sacks for machine washing of sensitive textile goods are already known. Such laundry bags function as protection for clothing items such as bras that are stuffed together therein during a washing process or as protection for other textiles being washed in the same washing process, e.g. before they can become hooked in some way onto the clothing item stuffed inside the laundry bag during the washing process. Environmental aspects have no relevance for such laundry bags.

SUMMARY

Against the background of the prior art explained in the foregoing, an object of the present invention consists in improving plastic-fiber-containing textile products or clothing items to the effect that, while the plastic fibers are being washed, the wastewater burden that they cause can be significantly reduced in a way that is particularly simple and convenient for the user.

This object is achieved by a plastic-fiber-containing textile product according to claim 1. Preferred further developments of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the present description.

An inventive textile product is characterized in that a closable laundry bag manufactured from a thermoset plastic screen fabric having a mean mesh size in the range between 5 μm and 200 μm and being dimensionally suitable for completely receiving the clothing item is integrated into the textile product, which preferably may be a clothing item, so that, during a washing process with textile product received inside the closed laundry bag, it functions as a retaining means for any plastic fibers washed out of the textile product.

By the fact that the laundry bag provided according to the invention is integrated into the textile product, the laundry bag is advantageously available during any process of washing of the textile product in question. Thus the textile product to be washed merely has to be stuffed into the laundry bag integrated into the textile product and the laundry bag closed, whereupon the laundry bag together with textile product stuffed into it may be subjected to an environmentally friendly washing process in a washing machine. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the laundry bag in question is adapted in terms of its dimensions, especially its volume, to the textile to be washed herewith, so that on all occasions it need be only (at least) as large as is necessary for receiving the textile product in question. Advantageously however, the laundry bag may also be made—more or less—slightly larger, in order to be able to receive, additionally if necessary, yet a further textile product/clothing item containing plastic fibers.

Otherwise, it proves to be particularly advantageous that the laundry bag is manufactured from a thermoset plastic screen fabric with a mean mesh width in the range between 5 μm and 200 μm.

Tests have shown that, with such a laundry bag, it is possible on the one hand to achieve a reliable retaining effect for the plastic fibers washed out of textiles with a retention percentage reaching almost 100%, while on the other hand a good washing result can be achieved. Advantageously, retention ratios of at least 90% or at least 95% are achieved. The inventive use of a thermoset plastic screen fabric permits precise adjustment of the (mean) mesh widths according to the claims, which are suitable for effectively holding back the plastic fibers that would otherwise be released from the textile product into the environment.

Within the scope of the present invention, this mean mesh width of the plastic screen fabric may also be advantageously adapted specifically to plastic fibers used in the textile product in question, so that the mesh width of the plastic screen fabric may be selected to match type and thickness of the plastic fibers used in the textile product in question. Thus, for example, a laundry bag having small mesh width may be used for textile products with particularly fine plastic fibers, as may a laundry bag having larger mesh widths be used for textile products with coarser fibers.

Where it is stated in the foregoing that the laundry bag is integrated into the textile product, it is particularly preferable for it to be fastened in appropriately permanent manner on or in the textile item, especially stitched thereto, wherein even detachable fastening by means of suitable fasteners (zipper closures, press studs, etc.) is conceivable under certain circumstances, wherein the laundry bag is to be separable from the textile item if the need arises (e.g. so that it may also be used separately for washing other clothing items).

A contribution to the effectiveness of the present invention is the fact that an irregular alternation of external and internal water pressure acts on the laundry bag during the washing process in a washing machine. Due to the particularly smooth surface of a thermoset plastic screen fabric, fiber fragments deposited on the inside face of the bag are flushed back by the incoming and outgoing water, whereby formation of a filter cake is prevented. This lowers the resulting dynamic pressure, keeps the bag material functioning as filter clean and ensures high filter efficiency.

In an expedient configuration of the invention, the laundry bag is disposed at such an inconspicuous position of the textile product or clothing item that it is imperceptible during use of the textile product or clothing item as intended and thus is not apparent to third parties.

For clothing items, a preferable alternative for this purpose is that the laundry bag is disposed on an inner side of the clothing item, in or on an inner lining or in the region of a collar of the clothing item.

Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, it may be advantageously provided that the laundry bag has a zipper closure pointing to an inner or outer side of the clothing item, through which the clothing item may be folded over into the inner space of the laundry bag when the zipper closure is open, and by means of which the laundry bag may be closed with the clothing item received inside it. This proves to be practical during handling of the inventive laundry bag. Furthermore, in the case of an appropriately configured clothing item, the laundry bag may then be used if necessary in the manner of a pocket that can be closed by means of the zipper closure even while the clothing item is being used/worn.

In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the mean mesh width of the fabric used for the laundry bag lies in the range between 5 μm and 100 μm, especially approximately 50-80 μm, which optimizes the effectiveness of the intended filter action with simultaneous achievement of a good washing result.

For the plastic screen fabric to be used according to the invention, it is preferable to resort to a thermoset polyamide, especially polyamide 6.6 (PA 6.6). Hereby it is possible in particular to achieve a continuous temperature resistance of 100° C. (wet), which is most suitable for the present purpose. Obviously it is also possible, however, within the scope of the present invention, to use other materials, provided they are sufficiently stable under the environmental conditions common for washing processes (especially in machines).

Furthermore, the use of a monofilament fabric, which incidentally can be used in a single sheet, is of advantage. It has proved particularly advantageous for the present invention to use a single-sheet, monofilament screen fabric of PA 6.6 with a fabric thickness of approximately 80 μm, a mesh width of warp and weft of respectively 50 μm with a tolerance of only +/−10% and an open screen area of 27%.

Inasmuch as it was mentioned in the foregoing that the laundry bag can be closed in suitable manner, the closure of the laundry bag was obviously also intended to support the retaining function and thus be at least largely impenetrable for the plastic fibers in question with lengths on the order of 100 μm (or shorter).

To this extent, it is of advantage for the laundry bag to be closable with a closure that likewise holds back the plastic fibers, especially with a zipper closure that is suitably fine (advantageously substantially watertight) and/or is covered if necessary by a layer of bag material.

As a suitable closure, however, it is also possible to provide that an opening disposed along the hem of the laundry bag is closed after introduction of the textile or textiles to be washed by rolling the laundry bag inwardly in the region of its opening and then—especially by means of suitable closure elements (e.g. by means of press studs disposed in a reinforcement of the laundry bag or of a zipper closure provided there)—fixed in the inwardly rolled position. Hereby the bag material rolled inwardly in the region of the opening is able, in the manner of a labyrinth seal, to prevent the plastic fibers to be held back from escaping out of the laundry bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of the figures, wherein

FIGS. 1A-3C show three exemplary embodiments of an inventive textile product with laundry bag integrated therein or thereon in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A-D show, in frontal view, in FIGS. 1A-B, a textile product 1 containing plastic fibers and having the nature of a clothing item, namely a fleece pullover, with a laundry bag 2 integrated therein, wherein laundry bag 2 can be closed by means of a zipper closure 3 disposed on the front outer side of the fleece pullover and extending transversely at the height of the chest region.

In FIG. 1A, it is indicated by a broken line that laundry bag 2 is disposed in hidden manner on the inside of the fleece pullover, so that in the said figure it is not recognizable. When zipper closure 3 is opened, then laundry bag 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, can be turned out through the opening of the zipper closure.

At its outer border, laundry bag 2 is provided with a hem reinforcement 4, even in the region of zipper closure 3, to which it is permanently stitched, and otherwise, as already explained hereinabove, is advantageously made from a thermoset plastic screen fabric of polyamide (PA 6.6) having a mean mesh width in the range between 5 μm and 200 μm, advantageously in the range between 5 μm and 100 μm. Zipper closure 3 is also set up to retain plastic fibers in a size range of approximately 100 μm.

Starting from the configuration shown in FIG. 1A, the fleece pullover may then—as illustrated in FIG. 1C—be pushed into the laundry bag until it has been completely received therein (see FIG. 1D). After zipper closure 3 has been closed, laundry bag 2 containing the (other) textile product 1 may then be placed in a washing machine and thus washed in an environmentally friendly manner. The plastic fibers or fragments of plastic fibers washed out of textile product 1 during the washing process remain in laundry bag 3, which functions as a retaining means for the fibers and, after completion of the washing process, can be removed from laundry bag 2 and disposed of professionally in a manner that does not burden the wastewater.

FIGS. 2A-D show, in front and rear view, in FIGS. 1A-B, a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive textile product 1 in the manner of a jacket 1, in which a laundry bag 2 of the already described type is stitched or—if necessary—fastened removably in inventive manner on the inner back side of the jacket, as indicated by the broken line in the rear view illustrated in FIG. 2B, so that it is able to receive the jacket completely and function as a retaining means for plastic fibers during a washing process.

The two views of FIGS. 2C-D illustrate once again, as already in the exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 1A-D, that the jacket can be completely received in laundry bag 2 for an environmentally friendly washing process after a zipper closure 3 provided on the laundry bag 2 has been opened.

Finally, FIGS. 3A-C show, in front and rear view, in FIGS. 3A-B, a third exemplary embodiment of an inventive textile product 1 in the manner of a jacket (containing plastic fibers) with integrated laundry bag 2, wherein laundry bag 2 in this case is rolled inwardly and stuffed in a manner known, for example, for a hood, in the region of collar 5 and a zipper closure 3 provided there. Here also—in a manner comparable with the variant from FIGS. 1A-D—laundry bag 2 may be turned out of collar 5 after zipper closure 3 has been opened and then the jacket may be folded in the direction of arrow P through zipper closure 6 into laundry bag 2 as shown in FIG. 3C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plastic-fiber-containing textile product (1), especially a clothing item, wherein a closable laundry bag (2) manufactured from a thermoset plastic screen fabric having a mean mesh size in the range between 5 μm and 200 μm and being dimensionally suitable for completely receiving the textile product (1) is integrated into the textile product (1), so that, during a washing process with textile product received inside the closed laundry bag (2), it functions as a retaining means for any plastic fibers washed out of the textile product (1).
 2. The textile product of claim 1 in which the laundry bag (2) is fastened permanently in or on the textile product (2), especially stitched thereon.
 3. The textile product of claim 1 in which the laundry bag (2) is disposed at such an inconspicuous position of the textile product (1) that it is imperceptible during use of the textile product (1) as intended.
 4. The textile product of claim 1, wherein the textile product (1) is a clothing item and in that the laundry bag (2) is disposed on an inner side of the clothing item, in or on an inner lining or in the region of a collar (5) of the clothing item.
 5. The textile product of claim 4, wherein the laundry bag (2) has a zipper closure (3) pointing to an inner or outer side of the clothing item, through which the clothing item may be folded over into the inner space of the laundry bag (2) when the zipper closure is open, and by means of which the laundry bag (2) may be closed with the clothing item received inside it.
 6. The textile product of claim 1, wherein the mean mesh width lies in the range between 5 μm and 100 μm, especially approximately 50-80 μm.
 7. The textile product of claim 1, wherein the plastic screen fabric is a thermoset polyamide, especially polyamide 6.6.
 8. The textile product of claim 1, wherein the screen fabric is a monofilament fabric.
 9. The textile product of claim 1, wherein the laundry bag can be closed with a closure that holds back plastic fibers, especially with a zipper closure. 